This is one from our customer who was kind enough to run some test with a few various quick disconnects.
Quick disconnects allow for easy disconnections within the loop. Ideal for thsoe that are benchmarking various components or want the ease of taking parts out easily with upgrading or maintaining their rig. In our tester's case, he wanted a quick release system for his radiator unit in an SFF system. Due to the restrictive space, a quick release meant he could easily pull out a 360mm rad to access the internals.
The test setup as above includes the following:
Thermaltake Flow meter
Watercool Heatkiller Tube 150 with XSPC D5 PWM pump at 100% speed
1 x EK 90 degree fitting
1 metre of PVC tubing
2 x soft tube compression fittings
As the flow meter may not have been calibrated, this test is purely for comparison only. Mingyang wanted to observe the effects of a quick disconnect on flow rate in a loop.
First up, as a control the loop was run without any QDCs. This yielded about 636l/hr
Next up is the Alphacool Eiszapfen quick release connector. Note that this is no the HF version which indicates "High Flow". This one drops flow rate by almost half, down to 336l/hr. This connector uses a pull system, so disconnection is quick and easy when you need to pull apart your loop at any moment.
Testing with the Alphacool HF Quick Release Connector kit increases this to 384l/hr. This kit features a plastic construction which helps to drive cost down without compromising on performance. These connectors also utilise a screw lock system, which may take a bit longer to take disconnect, but will also ensure a super secure connection.
And finally, the Koolance QD3 which has the lowest flow restriction at 480l/hr. Like the Eiszapfen, these use a pull lock system, making disconnection almost instantaneous.
Tabulating the results
| Product | Measured flow rate (litres/hour) |
| No Quick Disconnect | 636 |
| Alphacool Eiszapfen quick release connector kit | 336 |
| Alphacool HF Quick Release Connector kit G1/4 | 384 |
| Koolance QD3 Quick Disconnect No-Spill Coupling | 482 |
The Koolance performed the best out of the tested quick disconnects here. But bear in mind that these do cost considerably more than the Alphacool units at $45 for each coupling. As you'll need a male and female coupling, this adds up to $90 for a kit.
With that said, the Alphacool HF Quick release connector kits in plastic are only $18 for an entire set, making them fantastic value for those wanting to add a quick release system in their loop without breaking the bank.